Waste treatment and storage system



United States Patent [72] Inventors Jack D. Zelf Deerlleld; George C.Roberts, Evanston, Illinois 21 Appl. NO. 761,731 [22] Filed Sept. 23,1968 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 692,062, Dec. 20, 1967,now pending. This application Sept. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 761,731 [45]Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [73] Assignee General American TransportationCorporation a corporation of New York [54] WASTE TREATMENT AND STORAGESYSTEM 49 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. C1 210/97, 4/ 10 [51] Int. Cl B03d 3/00 [50] Field of Search4/10, 90, l 15. 131; 210/97 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,303,358 5/1919 Montgomery 4/10X 2,798,227 7/1957 Boester 4/102,798,228 7/1957 Boester 4/10 2,858,939 11/1958 Corliss 4/90X 3,070,43312/1962 Dietz et al.. 4/131X 3,169,497 2/1965 Blankenship 4/1153,172,131 3/1965 Herkenhine et al. 4/10 3,320,621 5/1967 Vita 1. 4/10Primary Examiner- Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner- Robert 1. SmithAttorney-Claron N. White ABSTRACTzgA system, that receives and treatswaste from and preferably furnishes flushing liquid to a toilet,includes a temporary holding tank to receive the waste from a toilet, avolume-reductive storage tank, a conduit between these tanks to transferwaste from the holding tank to the storage tank, valve means to closethe conduit, heater means to evaporate at least part of the waste in thestorage tank, and one or more of: an automatic system including anoperation of the valve means; a movable spout in the holding tankcommunicating with an opening in the top wall to communicate with abottom outlet of a toilet; an automatic metering system, along with anautomatic accumulator or supply system that includes a novel replaceablecanister to replenish the metering system, for periodic automaticintroduction of a novel disinfectant concentrate composition, preferablycontaining a dye, into the holding tank upon completion of automaticwaste transfer through the conduit, so as to have in the holding tank,during toilet use and regardless of the number of toilet uses betweenoperations, an adequate concentration of disinfectant and preferably,also, of dye; a special configuration of the upper surface of the bottomwall of the holding tank; location and construction of the conduit andthe valve means'to insure a minimum liquid level for a pump in theholding tank after automatic waste transfer; and an override of theautomatic waste transfer system to rinse the holding tank with completedrainage or to service both tanks with complete drainage.

Sheet 4 017 Patentd Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 7 of! WASTE TREATMENT ANDSTORAGE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation-in-part of our U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 692,062,entitled Toilet and Waste Storage System" filed on Dec. 20, 1967.

BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a system or apparatus and to a method for receiving humanbody wastes and periodically transferring part of the waste fortreatment to remove at least part of the liquid content and preferablyretaining part of the liquid for use as a flushing liquid for a toilet.

2. Description of the Prior Art ln various vehicles, such as airplanes,.buses, boats and trains, and sites lacking conventional sewagetreatment systems there has existed a need for the storage and disposalof wastes received from toilets.

As described in our copending patent application mentioned above, underthe conditions where a water supply is very limited it has been proposedto use a waterless toilet. An illustrative system in the incineratortoilet described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,497. The humanwastes are transferred from a toilet bowl to an incinerator chamber inwhich the waste is converted to ash. The volatile material is removedfrom the incinerator chamber by a blower. None of the aqueous content ofthe human waste is utilized.

Several developments have produced systems that are referred to asself-contained sewage or toilet systems. These systems have a flushtoilet bowl mounted on a tank that contains at the start of service ofthe system, an aqueous solution suitable for flushing the toilet. Theaqueous solution also contains chemicals to provide a deodorization ofwaste material received in the tank from the toilet. During service usethe volume of liquid in the tank increases. Eventually, the amount ofliquid in the tank precludes any further use of the system until it hasbeen serviced. ln this system there is provided a combination of afilter and a pump by which the mixture of waste liquid and initial waterin the tank is drawn to the filter which permits the passage of filtrateto the inlet of the pump. Flushing liquid in the form of this filtrateis fed to the toilet bowl by the outlet of the pump. Such systems aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,067,433 and 3,343,178. Another patent(U.S.

Pat. No. 3,172,131) describes and claims a specific improvement that isespecially useful with the system of U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,433. U.S. Pat.No. 3,067,433 states that a self-cleaning filter of known constructioncan be used. An alleged improved filter is disclosed and claimed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,342,341 which also discloses the entire self-contained sewagesystem.

The systems described in the next preceding paragraph utilize arelatively deep tank and provide an initial charge of aqueous liquid inan amount to occupy less than one-half of the volumetric capacity of thetank, i.e., the capacity beyond which the system should not be useduntil serviced. In each of such systems the distance from the top of thetank to the top of the initial charge of aqueous liquid is required tobe substantial so as to permit the use of the system for a considerablenumber of times before the system requires servicing. For this reasonthe outlet of the toilet bowl is required to be at the topmost portionof the tank and for a number of other reasons this outlet is required toextend laterally within this topmost portion of the tank.

A previous system is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,939 in which thewaste liquid from the toilet is ground and filtered. The filtrate istransferred to another tank for later use in a flushing operation. Thefilter transfers the solids to a tank below the filter.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,612 there is disclosed and claimed a tankreceiving human body waste from two toilets and a double drive filterand pump that selectively provides flushing liquid to one or the othertoilet.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a system capable ofreceiving of human body wastes, transferring and treating part of thewastes, and utilizing another part of the human body wastes as a flowingliquid for and to a toilet. The apparatus of the invention reducessubstantially the volume of waste that is received in one tank andtransferred to a second tank from which part of the material of thewaste is disposed in a form that avoids substantially atmosphericpollution. Because of the apparatus, there is a decrease in the grossweight of an occupied vehicle, such as an airplane, during the multipleoperation of the apparatus in a flight. Furthermore, the apparatus ofthe present invention increases the number of times that the toilet canbe used before it becomes necessary to provide a service operation thatcompletely removes human waste received by the apparatus. Otheradvantages, especially those for specific combinutions that areembodiments of the apparatus. will be men tioned later.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a temporary holding tank, avolume-reductive storage tank. a conduit communicating these tanks witheach other for transfer of flowable material from the holding tank tothe storage tank, means to close the conduit, and heater means to heatthe storage tank for removal of at least volatile material in the humanwaste in the storage tank.

The holding tank has an opening in its upper portion for communicationwith the bottom opening of an outlet of a toilet so that the holdingtank receives human waste from the toilet. This opening is preferably inthe top wall of the holding tank. The holding tank has an outlet in thelower portion and one end of the conduit is connected to that tank tocommunicate the holding tank with the conduit at that outlet. Thestorage tank has an inlet opening in the upper portion, preferably inthe top wall, and the other end of the conduit communicates with thestorage tank via that opening in the storage tank. The storage tank alsohas an outlet for removal of volatized material from the tank.

In some of the various embodiments of the apparatus of the invention,the apparatus necessarily uses a pump having an inlet in the holdingtank to remove liquid from that tank and an outlet to provide theremoved liquid to the toilet for the flushing of the latter. In some ofthese embodiments a filter is present to provide a filtered liquid tothe pump. In one of these embodiments the presence of a filter is notabsolutely required, although its presence may be desired as aprecaution. That embodiment has a holding tank with a top surface thatis shaped, as described later, to minimize movement of solids to thepump inlet.

ln one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention the heater means forremoving volatile material from the storage tank and thus reducing thevolume of waste in the storage tank comprises a heater that has athermal capacity, sufficient to raise the temperature in the tank toprovide a substantial water vapor pressure, and a heater that has acapacity, sufficient to convert waste material in the tank to anincinerated product. Of course, the latter heater can include the heaterfor removal of water in vapor form. in that case, the heater for theincineration treatment would constitute the evaporative heater and anadditional heater. Alternatively, the incinerative heater can be anentirely separate heater.

In this embodiment of the apparatus the normal use of the heater meanswould be the use only of the evaporative heater. However, under certainconditions the apparatus would utilize the heater that provides for theincineration of material in the storage tank. This change in operationof the heater means from the normal operation of the evaporative heaterto the incinerative heater could involve merely the manual switching inelectrical circuitry to provide power to the incinerative heater. Whenthe evaporative heater is part of the heater system for theincineration, the evaporative heater would continue to be operativeandgthe only difference would be the paratus includes also surface ofthe plane passing transfer of thermal energy;

operation also of the Supplemental heater to obtain the higher theheater means of r in the storage tank is preferably controlledtoavoidtoo high atemperature for the tank. When the apparatus is in an.

temperature. In the normal operation 1 of the present apparatus,thetemperature airplane in flight, it is preferably used for evaporationonlyof volatilizable material; specifically water, from that tank. T hisavoids a fire hazard, namely, the creation of a hot zone within theairplane. The apparatus of this embodiment has one aspect thatincludes acon- .trol to'prevent operation of the incmerative heater when theairplane is moving orhas some other operating condition, so thattheincinerative heater can operate only when the .air-

plane is on the ground and is safe toprovide such incineration.

in this embodimentwthe heater that waste in the storage tank is minedextent of use until a subsequent transfer of waste is effectuated-frornthe holding tank toy-the storage tank. This con-.

trol system also includes a control-that prevents an operation of the,heaterduringthe transfer of material from the holding tank to thestorage tankin'a partial holding tank and then from the to an externalstorage or transfer system such as tank truck or pipe line.

This complete servicing of the apparatus can be scheduled to beperformedafter a number of flights that exceeds manyfold the number offlights of an airplane that cantb e made before complete servicingisnecessariy-for apparatus presently available. Of course,suchschedulesare based upon the expected maximum number of toilet usesper flight;

provides for the evaporation ofat least part of 'the aqueouscontent ofthe preferably combined with' a conj-,-

trolthat prevents an operation. of the heater after a predeterl means ismovable between such foperative. position to a system that moves theshield froin the holding tank and thus is moved by the controlrsystem Ior a complete service it operation.-.The".partial service operationprovides 'forthe a transfer of rinseliquid into the I holding tank viatheconduit to the storage tank.The complete n service operation alsotransfers material from the storagetank the former zone.

In another embodiment of theprese nt inventionthe outlet;

of the holding tank is required to be in the sidewall of the holdingtank ratherthanmerely in the lower portion of the holding tank. In thisembodiment of the apparatus,the lowermost portion of the outlet in'thesidewall is at the plane of the portion of the inner tops urface of thebottom wall'ofthe holding tank 7 adjacent that outlet. For mosteffective. removal of solids of the human waste received by the holdingtank, the portion of the top surface of the bottom wall is preferablythelowest part of the top surface of that wall in the zone of the tank inwhich such solidswould be expected to settle to, the bottom wall. In

addition, in thisembodiment of the apparatus the conduit indownwardlyand laterally inthe tension is in direction awayfrom the pump inlet.This lateral extension and its direction are important when the bottombefore the conduit can be openedas part of a cycle of operation of themeans to close the conduit? Also the means to move the shield to theoperative position' is operative only by the control that permits theuseof the incinerative heater. Y. a

g In a further embodimentof the apparatus of the invention the apparatusincludes a scoop that is mounted oh the top wall Preferably the scoopextends upwardly throughthe top opening of the holding tank..The scoopcommunicates with a botof. the holding tank at the. inlet opening of thelatter.

tom outlet of a toilet. Preferably the bottom outlet of a toilet ismounted directlyjabove the holding tank. This scoop extends wall of thattank has .an upper surface configuration that minimizes transfer ofsolids from the zone of the tank having the outlet of the tank to thezone in'which the pump inlet is located. lnthat case,the outlet of thescope deposits waste in The scoop ofthis embodiment-of the apparatus hastwo aspects of construction. In both aspects the scoop has a lowerportion that is mo'vable relative to an upper portion. The mountingforthis movement of thelower portion includes.

means to bias the two portionstogether to retain a continuous. scoopfrom-inlet to outlet. ln-one aspect the scoop has two components thatare separately pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the scoop.Their mounting means urge these components into abutment with each other-to constitute the lower portion of the scoop which, of course, includesthe lateral extension. lni this construction the two be moved away partsof the bottom portion of theiscoop can from each other to permit easyaccess through the toilet bowl for the purpose of manual searching foran object that has inadvertentlyrdropped into the toilet" and passedthrough the cl udesia horizontal flexible portion having itslo'wermostinner surface in horizontal alignment with the lowermost portionof theoutlet of the, holding tank.'This, embodiment: of the apmeans to raiseanintermediate part of this flexible portion was to raise part of thatlowermost inner horizontal portion.

partof themeans toclose the conduit soas to stop transfer of'inaterial'from the'holding tank via the conduit to'the storage tank. aFailure to close completely the horizontal flexible portion of Thisraisingmeans may be a the conduit will not affect the upward movement ofthebota sufficient elevation tom portion of the flexible portion to offlowable material that will preventcomplete transfer through theincompletely closed conduit. When the level of' j flowable material intheholding tankdrop'sto the horizontal through the raised inner surfaceof bottom wall of .the flexible horizontal portion of the conduitfflowwill cease. This construction is important' in the embodiment'inu whichit is necessary, to maintain a minimum level of pumpable come thebiasing scoop intorthe holding tank. However, his necessary to overeachother'by the they return to their normal butting position defining alower part of the scoop as soon as the force that separates them hasbeen removed. i

In the second aspect of construction of the scoop of this embodiment ofthe apparatus, the upper portion and the lower portion are separatelymounted on the top wall of the tank. The upper portion preferablyextendsupwardly through the 'top wall of the holding tank. The lower portion ismounted on a verticalrod of a support means. The rod is mounted on the ftop wall of the holding tank. Thesupport means to mount this lowerportion is constructedto permit a downward movement of that portionrelative to they can .be verticallyspaced' from each other. The supportliquid in the holding tank and that'levelis above the horizontal planeat the lowermost part of the outlet of the holding tank. In another.embodiment of the apparatus of this invention the apparatus includesadjacent its communication with the storage tank to prevent latter isincinerating material in that tank. This shielding 75 means tothermally, shield 'theconduit in the form of high-temperature gases,from the holding ,tankto the storaget'ank when the means also isconstructed to permit movement of this downwardly spaced lower. portionabout the vertical axis of the .rod. This permits lateral arcuatemovement of the main portion of the scoop away frorn the top portion andthis is done when it inadvertentlydropped into the toilet; The downwardmovement of the lower portion of the scoop is opposed by resilient meansto move that portion upwards. Thelower portion of the scoop' is the mainportion of the scoop. It is preferably one holding tank. The lateralexthe lower portion of force to maintain; the two components spacedvawayfrom each other during this manual search. Because these twocomponents of the bottom portion of the scoop are urged toward mountingmeans,"

the top portion of the scoop so that is necessary to search'for andretrieve an object.

piece and contains the lateral extension and the main part of thevertical part of the scoop.

In the first aspect, the two components of the lower portion of thescoop pivot about parallel axes but these are not necessarilyhorizontal. They can be mounted for downward and then lateral arcuatemovement about spaced vertical axes as in the case of the second aspect.

In another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention thebottom wall of the holding tank has a top surface that is raised in anintermediate zone of the tank between the zone having the pump inlet init and the zone having the outlet of the scoop in it and with the outletin its sidewall. This raised portion extends transversely but haslongitudinal grooves in it, preferably, to the depth of the top surfaceof the bottom wall at opposite sides of the raised portion. Thesegrooves are sufficiently narrow to decrease substantially and preferablyto prevent the movement of solid and semisolid objects from the zonewith the spout in it to the other zone having the pump inlet in it.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, the systemincludes a disinfectant metering device that provides automatically acontrolled amount of colored disinfectant composition, which is a liquidconcentrate, to the holding tank each time there is a cycle of operationfor a transfer of waste material from the holding tank to the storagetank. This introduction of disinfectant liquid concentrate iseffectuated at the completion of that cycle, which occurs when theconduit is closed to prevent further transfer of waste material in theholding tank below the predetermined minimum level desired by thatmaterial for the flushing of a toilet by the pump in that tank. In thepreferred aspect of this embodiment the minimum level is accomplishedregardless of the complete closing of the conduit by virtue of theconstruction of the conduit mentioned above, namely, the construction inwhich the conduit has a horizontal portion that can be raised withrespect to its lowermost inner surface to insure retention of liquid inthe holding tank. in this embodiment, that uses the automatic meteringsystem, the apparatus includes the pump that is used to pump fluid tothe toilet from the holding tank.

In connection with this last embodimentof the apparatus of the presentinvention, the invention uses an automatic metering system, thatincludes an accumulator, and a supply system. The supply system includesa canister of supply of colored disinfectant liquid concentrate andmeans to mount the canister and at the same time to provide an openingin it for communication with the accumulator. The canister isconstructed to be self-unloading during metering of liquid concentrateand to provide a visual indication of the extent of concentrateremaining in the canister. This metering system and this canister arealso separate but related apparatus of the present invention.

A further embodiment of this invention is the colored disinfectantcomposition and its use in one embodiment of the method of theinvention. The composition is liquid at normal temperatures encounteredwithin the room having the supply system and the metering systemincluding the pipe to the holding tank. The composition is aconcentrated aqueous solution of a disinfectant and a compatible dye.The disinfectant is a material that has a suitable antibacterialspectrum as regards bacteria in human waste. It must also retainadequate solubility in the aqueous medium created by the depositing ofhuman waste in water added to the holding tank with a relatively smallamount of the disinfectant composition.

Furthermore, the disinfectant must retain adequate solubility,preferably complete solubility, in the aqueous medium when the latter,after transfer to the storage tank is heated to an elevated temperaturefor the removal of at least part of the water content. Such waterremoval concentrates the disinfectant in the aqueous medium.Unsatisfactory disinfectants, if not precipitated by materials fromhuman waste in the holding tank, will precipitate in the holding tankdue to thermal degradation, the concentration exceeding its solubility,or that of a compound formed with material in the human waste or thewater to which the concentrate is added, e.g., the presence of uric acidin the waste and the presence of calcium ions in the water.

in view of the foregoing it is seen that the disinfectant used in thisembodiment of the invention has complete solubility in the concentratedcomposition that is added in a small amount to water in the holdingtank, has complete solubility in that water even with the addition ofsubstantial human waste and that hot concentrate from the lattersolution upon heatingto an elevated temperature, e.g., the boiling pointof the aqueous medium, retains an effective amount of the disinfectantin solution. Preferably all disinfectant remains dissolved.Disinfectants, that meet these requirements, are soluble in water in aneffective amount in the holding tank and are sufficiently soluble in aliquid solvent that is miscible with water, to provide a concentratecomposition as a solution that contains at least l percent, preferablyat least 10 percent, and especially preferably at least 25 percent ofthe disinfectant compound. These compositions contain a small amount,i.e., less than 5 percent by weight water-soluble dye. The preferredliquid solvent is water. Suitable water-soluble disinfectants includealkali metal salts. Preferred disinfectants are alkali metal salts ofN-hydroxy-Lpyridinethiones and alkali metal salts of phenols. Thedisinfectant of the composition must have a suitable antibacterialspectrum for use against bacteria in human waste to prevent putrefactionwhile the materials are accumulated in the holding tank and in thestorage tank and are later concentrated in the latter withoutappreciable, preferably without any, loss by evaporation duringevaporative removal of part of the water content. The disinfectant mustbe effective against these bacteria in a concentration of disinfectantin water that is 0.1 percent by weight of the aqueous solution and thispreferably as low as 0.01 percent.

In addition to water and the disinfectant, the disinfectant compositionof the invention contains the compatible dye that is soluble in water tothe extent sufficient to impart an adequate color to the initial waterin which the composition is dissolved in the holding tank and to retainthat color for the aqueous medium during the addition of human waste tothe holding tank until partial transfer to the storage tank. The colormust be pleasing to the viewer of the toilet when the liquid is pumpedfrom that tank to flush the toilet. It must mask the color of humanwaste that would be apparent but for the presence of the dye.

Masking dyes of acceptable color have been added to water in a tankreceiving human waste and from which liquid has been pumped for toiletflushing. However, the dyes were not required to be compatible withdisinfectants, at least a disinfectant required to have the propertiesthat are stated above and that exist only by virtue of the system of ourinvention, that is the subject of our copending application mentionedabove, and the modifications of the system that are the subject of thepresent patent application.

Regarding the compatability requirement for the dye, it must be solublein the disinfectant concentrate, that can contain as high as about 50percent by weight of disinfectant compound. As stated above, alkalimetal salts that are highly water soluble and that are disinfectantsunder the conditions of the use of the present system impart substantialalkalinity to the aqueous concentrate. This excludes various types ofwatersoluble dyes, such as aniline dyes, from the group of compatibledyes for use in the concentrate composition of the present invention.Suitable dyes include the class of dyes containing at least one sulfonicacid group as an alkali salt of that group. The term alkali" includesammonium" and the alkali metals. An illustrative and preferred member ofthis class of compatible dyes is the ammonium salt of the productobtained by condensing o-formylbenzenesulfonic acid with alpha-(N-ethylanilino)-m-toluenesulfonic acid and then oxidizing the condensationproduct. The formula and the foregoing description of the preparation ofthe compound appear under colour index No. 42090 on page 3351, Volume 3,Colour index", Second Edition, published by The Society of Dyers andperature-sensing systemforthat tank becomes inoperative.

Colourists, Yorkshire,- England. The dye is available I and C. Blue DyeNo. I from Warner-Jenkins'on Mfg. Co.,.St.

Louis, Missouri. On page S870 of the 1963 Supplement of Colour Index",also published by the Society of Dyers and Colouriststhat manufacturersdye of such designatio'n refers.

to colourindex No. 42090 for information. g 71 'Referringbaclt to thepreferred typesof alkali metalsalts as the disinfectant compound,thealkali metal salts of the unsubstituted and thesubstitutedN-hydroxy-2-pyridinethiones that i g are described along withmethods, for their preparation in US.

Pat. No. 2,686,78fi. The substituted compounds used here are as taughtin that patent. Theassignee of that patent, presently OlinMathiesonChemical Corp., New York, New York. supplies anaqueousconcentrateof 50 percent by weight of sodium 2- pyridinethione-N-oxide,and balance water under the trademark; OMACIDE-6. This salt isespecially preferred, as seen later. A brochure (AD-.l423-967)'of OlinMathieson as. .F.D. {FIG 4 is a fragmentary elevationof the assemblyshowing I the. holding tank, a wash. basinwith drainpipe, piping tofeedwater from the drain pipe to the holding tank, and the supply.device'and the metering device of the disinfectant compositionintroduction system also connected to thattanki FIG. 5 is a fragmentaryelevation, partiallybroken away, of

the drain valve and pipe for the basin'and the disinfectantChemicaljCorp. states thatflOMACIDE-fi is a chelating agent.

The less preferred alkali metal salts are those illustrative salt is thetetrahydrate of the sodium salt of o-phenylphenol, sold by, Dow ChemicalCo., Midland, Michigan This salt is less preferred because itprecipitates in time, at leastto someexten't, during under the trademark.Dowicide A- its use, in the manner described above for-the method of.the

invention. This precipitation is probably due to the formation 7 ofinsoluble calcium saltJ-The effectiveness as a disinfectant is greaterobviously when the phenol compound isin theliquid than when present asasolid. i V e I 7 Another embodiment. of the invention is the method of.using the disinfectant composition in the waste'm'anagement system. inthe methodbroadly speaking it is not necessary to;- require the presenceof compatible dye. It is apparent that.

broad embodiments of the apparatus that dojnot require and; 9

do not use liquid from the holding tank to flush the toilet can watertothe wash basin. Inthis method, the disinfectant composition isintroduced into ,theholding tank along with fresh water, durin'g'eachpartialand eachcomplete servicing. It is also introduced into, thematerial remaining i'n the holding "tank at the completion of each cycleof transfer from the hold ,ing tank to the storage tank. This addition,ofcourse. can use the colored composition.

Still-another embodiment of theapparatus includes a lowlevel sensingmeansin the storage tank to shut off the evaporative heater whenever thelatter has removed water from the tank's contents after transfer cyclesto a..p redetermined minimum levelof material in that tank.lhis'avoidsoverheat-v ingand failure of anevaporativeheater that isnotbuiltto function as part of an incinerative heater. Furthermore, thisutilize water from another source, e.g., thatused to provide of thepresent invention.

and pivotally mounting it on that top wall.

supply system, including the self-unloading canister, mounted on aservice control panel.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section of the supply'system,

the metering device and part of the means to operate the latter duringthe closing of the conduit between the holding tank and thestorage tank.

FIG.:7 is an elevation, partially FIG. 8 is a fragmentarycrosssection ofthescoop of FIG. I mounted with a toilet bowl on the holding tank.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan of the scoop of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation, partially broken away of the holdingand storage tanks, theconduit between them, and the valve to close thelatter in a manner to provide a dam for liquidin the holding tank.

11 is a fragmentary cross section-of the storage tank, its outlet forvapor, and, a three-way valve controlling the 7 direction of flow ofthat vapor.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are top plans, partially broken away, showing twopositionsof the1 spool of the valve for the two directions of vapor flowfor-dumping.

- I FIG. 14 is a cross section in a vert cal plane of an alternativethree-way'valve associatedwiththe storagetank outlet and the two pipingsystems solids.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary transverse cross section of the top wall oftheholding tankand an elevation of another form of the scoop of theinvention along withthe means for resiliently FIG. 16 isa longitudinalcross section'of part of the holding tank andof the scoop and showninFIG. 15. I 7

FIG. 17 is a top plan of a portion of the top wall of the hold-.

of the top wall ing tank and showing in dotted lines theresilientzpivoted.

mounting means and the normal position of the scoop of FIG. 15 andshowing in phantom lines a position of the scoop after it'has beenforced; downwardly. and moved from below the opening in that top walltoprovide access for retrieval of articles.

FIG. 18 is an elevation of [another embodiment of valve means to close aflexibleiconduit between the two tanks and shows a cross sectionof-the'flexible conduit, along with dotted lines showing the position ofthe closing bars of the valve.

means and the conduit thereby closed. 3

control of the evaporative heater avoids a high temperature valvedinletfor flushingfluid, external valve operator, and a for that tank duringuse in an airplane in flight when the tem;

metals and in'which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the" assembly of.

' systemof the present inventionare illustrated in'the drawings some ofthe components of the system with a toilet mounted 1 on one of theshrouds for the assembly.

- FIG. 2'is a fragmentary cross-sectional view that passesas 5Lvertical'planethrough theoutlet of the holding tank andthe inlet for thestorage tank butis forward (as viewed inFIG. 1)

I ofthat plane toward the ends of the assembly- FIG. 3 is a fragmentarytransversecrosssection ofthe bottorn wall of the holding tank takenalon'g the line 3-3 of FIG. 7

7 FIG. j19'is a fragmentary cross section of another embodiment-of theapparatus of the present inventionshowing a .storage tank withevaporative heater,only,and showing a fragmentary .cross'section' of an"airplane fuselage along with energy to the pump, that is used when fluidinthe holding tank is'pumped as flushing liquid, and to electricalenergy to the two heaters for the storage tank;

1 FIG. 21 presents another part of the electrical circuitry of theautomatic controlfor operation of theapparatus of the invention in whichthe various components of the various embodiments are present;

FIG. 22 is a top plan of a fragmentary portion of another embodiment ofthe waste management system of the. inven-.

tion.

- FIG. 23 is 23 23 ofFIG.22.

, 24 is an end view of the holding tank shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 takenalong the line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

broken away, of one scoop for dumping of.vapor or'volatilized themounting means a fragmentarycross sectiontaken along the line 9 DETAILEDDESCRlPTlON Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system of the presentinvention is illustrated with a toilet 25 that is mounted on a top wall26 of a temporary holding tank generally indicated at 27 (FIG. 2) withina cover or shroud 28 that has an extension 29 in which is located aflexible, resilient conduit 30. The apparatus has, also, a storage tank(FIG. 2) generally indicated at 31 within a shroud 32 (FIG. 1).

In this illustrative system tank 27 is above a portion of tank 31 and issupported by means (not shown). Of course, as described in our copendingpatent application, it is not necessary that tank 27 be mounted abovetank 31. As a matter of fact, as mentioned in that application, severaltanks 27 can be connected by conduits, such as conduit 30, to a commontank 31.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates the use of liquid from tank27 for flushing of toilet bowl 25. For this part of the system a pump 33is mounted on. roof or top wall 26 of tank 27. The pump 33 having motor33M extends generally through an opening 34 in wall 26 so that an inletpipe 35 for pump 33 has its bottom open end in a lower portion of tank27 In this apparatus there is shown a self-cleaning filter 36 whichpermits fluid only to pass to inlet pipe 35 from this bottom portion oftank 27 The filter 36 is not necessary in this apparatus because of theconstruction of floor or bottom wall 37 of tank 27. The bottom wall 37has a number of intermediate, raised, transversely spaced portions 38that partially separate the lower portion of tank 27 into a zone A and azone B. Because the raised portions 38 of bottom wall 37 are spaced fromone another there is a number of U-shaped longitudinal channels 39. Thechannels 39 are narrow in width so that the movement of solids throughchannels 39 from zone A to zone B is minimized. Thus zone B receivesfrom zone A a material that is substantially, if not entirely, liquidmaterial.

A scoop generally indicated at 40 is mounted on top wall 26 of tank 27at an opening 41 so that the top open end of scoop 40 is below and incommunication with the bottom outlet of toilet 25. The scoop 40 has itsbottom portion extending laterally in tank 27 in a direction so thatscoop 40 has its outlet 42 directed away from zone B and outlet 42 isabove zone A of the lower portion of tank 27. This human waste receivedin tank 27 from toilet 25 via scoop 40 is deposited in zone A andmovement to zone B of solids and semisolid material must pass, aftersettling in zone A to zone B only by passing through channels 39. Inview of the dimensions of channel 39, such movement from zone A to zoneB is greatly restricted.

The tank 27 has an end wall 43 with a circular opening 44 that has itslowermost portion in the horizontal plane of the upper surface of-bottomwall 37. The flexible conduit 30 has one of its open ends secured andsealed to wall 43 by a ring 45 on wall 43. That open end of conduit 30is in full communication with opening 44 of end wall 43. r

The other end of conduit 30 is mounted by a ring 46 on a plate 47securely mounted on tank 31. The ring 46 is concentric with andpreferably having the same diameter as a circular opening 48 in plate47. The tank 31 has a roof or top wall 49 with a circular opening 50 ofthe same diameter and concentric with opening 48. The tank 31 issurrounded by a heat-insulating material 51 in which are embedded aheater 52 and a heater 53. The heaters 52 and 53 are electrical heatercoils and are adjacent bottom wall 54 of tank 31. in addition heater 53extends substantially completely around all walls of tank 31. The heater52 is used to provide for evaporation of volatile material, such aswater, transferred into tank 31 from tank 27. The heater 53, alone orwith heater 52, provides the heat required to incinerate material withintank 31. The connection of these heaters to a power source is not shownexcept by lines in the circuitry in FIG. that will be described later.

The heat-insulating material 51 has an opening 55 concentric withopenings 50 of tank 31 and opening 48 of plate 47.

Thus this other end of conduit 30 communicates with the interior of tank31.

In view of the high temperature reached within tank 31 when heater 53 isoperated, with or without heater 52 according to the design, theapparatus includes heatshielding means 56 that is a plate movable by ahydraulic cylinder 57 having a piston rod 58 connected at this end toplate 56. The plate 56 is preferably a laminate of two sheets ofstainless steel and a heat-insulating sheet between them. The plate 47has an elongated slot 59 in which plate 56 is moved by piston rod 58from a normal position to the position shown in FIG. 2. 1n the latterposition plate 56 closes the bottom portion of opening 48 so that hotgases from tank 31 during incineration are prevented from enteringconduit 31. This keeps conduit 30 relatively cool and thus prevents allheat transfer to the contents in tank 27. it would be undesirable toraise the temperature of the contents of tank 27 because this wouldprovide an evaporation and perhaps boiling of material in tank 27. Thiswould be undesirable because tank 27 is open to the air in the toiletroom via toilet 25.

The plate 56 is shown in its protective position described above. ltsnormal position is at a location where it closes an opening 60 in plate46 that is concentric with and in communication with an opening 61 inheat-insulating material 51 and an opening 62 in top wall 49 of tank 31.A blower 63 is mounted on plate 47 so that the outlet of blower 63communicates with openings 60, 61 and 62 to provide for inlet of ambientairinto tank 31 during an incinerationoperation.

The top wall 49 of tank 31 has an opening 64 with which communicates apipe 65 that communicates at its other end with three-way valve 66 towhich outlet pipe 67 and 68 are connected at the other openings of valve66. The pipe 67 enters the top portion of a chamber of biological filter69 which contains conventional material to provide sterility to theeffluent gases from an evaporative operation of tank 31. These gasespass out filter 69 to a pipe 70 that extends to an opening in thefuselage wall of an airplane. Through that opening vapors are dumped tothe atmosphere outside the plane? The pipe 68 likewise extends throughth wall of the fuselage for dumping of the vapor when it is used forincineration rather than evaporation.

The valve 66 has its spool turned to the position for communicating pipe65 with pipe 67 when the heating operation in tank 31 is the evaporativetype. The valve 66 has its spool turned to communicate pipe 65 with pipe68 when there is incineration in tank 31. This prevents passage of veryhot gases from an incinerative operation through biological filter 69.its filter material would be destroyed by the temperature of the veryhot gases.

As seen in FIG. 1, top wall 49 of tank 31 and heat-insulating material51 above it are provided with an opening that is closed by a cover plate71 having a handle 72 that provides access to tank 31, whenever such isdesired.

The conduit 30 is flexible, i.e., can be closed by providing opposingforces to an intermediate section of conduit 30 so as to push theopposite side walls towards each other. In FIG. 1 the valve for closingconduit 30 illustrates somewhat sketchily one construction of a valvethat is shown in more detail in FIG.

'10. A valve means generally indicated at 74 in FIG. 2 illustrates adifferent construction. In both cases the closing of a zone of conduit30 is effected. This zone is an intermediate portion of conduit 30. Thelowermost part of that part of conduit 30 is raised while the opposingpart of that portion of conduit 30 is lowered until these opposing partsare touching each other. As a matter of fact the opposing wall sectionsconstituting the full periphery of conduit 30 are then in abuttingrelationship. This prevents flow through conduit 30. At the same timethe lower half of the portion of conduit 30 adjacent to this raisedportion and toward tank 27 is also raised to provide a dam efi'ectexternal of tank 27 and upstream of the closed zone area.

Referring to HO. 1, valve means generally indicated at 73 includes amotor 75 disposed so that its longitudinal axis is conduit and shaft itsoriginal shape; i Referring to FIG. 2',the tank level,liquid-sensingmeans 90 and a low-level, liquid-sensing tion to tank 27.V e n y Thechannels 39 inthe raised portion 38 of bottom wall 37horizontal. The motor rotatesjlinkage;generally indicated? at 76..Thenature of linkage 76 and how it operatestransverse rods to close conduit30 and then move thesefrodsawayso that conduit 30 opensare describedlater. i

Referring to valve means 74 in FIG. 2, includes a reversible motor 77that has a shaft 78 on which is mounted a worm Y.

79 that mesheswith a gear 80 fixedly mounted on ashaft 815' The" shaft81 is rotatably mounted on a pair of fixed supports 1 (not shown). Apair of armsf82 are fixedly mountedon shaft 81. The arms 82,attheirdistal end, rotatably support-a cylindrical rod 83.

As described later for FIG. 10,there area chain and two sprockets (onefixedly mounted on shaft 81), a pair of gears,

and another chain and two sprockets including a sprocket (not shown)that is fixedly mounted on a shaft 84 rotatably mounted bysupport'rneans (not shown). i l The motor77gby gears 79 and 80' throughthe construction described above move rods,83 in an arcuate manner froma .positionshown in phantom lines to the right of shaft 811 to a closerposition for rod 83. The shaft 84 is directly below open. 81. A pair ofarms 85 are fixedly; mounted on shaft 84 to. be moved from a horizontalposition, a during the lowering of arms 82, to a position verticallydisposed above arms 85; The arms 85 rotatably supportat their distalends a cylindrical rod 86so that rods 83- and 86 are 1 V supply systemusually communicatespipe nswnha drain pipe 117. The

valve 116 can communicate pipe 115 with pipe 98 to provide. water totank 27 as described later. The drainpipe 117 usually dumps the water tothe atmosphere through an opening in the fuselage of theplane. i l

" .Referring to FIG. 5,which shows the construction of the 108 for thedisinfectantconcentrate composi.

tion of the present invention,.thes upply system 108 includesa Exceptfor thelower portion of extension'132, piston 133 is 25' I moved towardseach other duringthe forward operation of 3 motor 77. This movement ofrods 83 and 86 results in the closingof an intermediate portion ofconduit 30 as seen in full lines inI-IG. 2. The dotted lines indicatethenonnal outline of open conduit 30. The reversing operation of motor 77results in the movementof rods 83 and86 away from conduit. 30. Becauseconduit 30 is resilient, as well a's flexible, it returns to.

'271 is providediwith a high? means 91 that extend into tank 27. As seenlater,'these sensingv 6 means initiate the closing and opening,respectively, of conduit 30. The level of waste material and water, as amixture, in tank 27 is shown by the wavy line thatis above the minimumlevel at which sensing means 91 is operative .via two wires and below,the level at which sensing means becomes. operative via two other wires.These four wires are in circuits shown in FIG. 21 that will be describedlater. V 1

The tank 27 has a spray ring 92 that is mounted just below top wall 26and extends around the perimeter of tank 27. The I spray ring 92 isfurnished rinsing water in the servicing of tank 27, as described later.Thiswater is furnished from a wash 1 basin (not shown in FIG. 2)by apipe 98 that is connected to vent pipe 99, The pipe 99 extends throughan opening in top wall 26 of tank 27 and is connected tospray ring 92.The pump has an outlet pipe 100 that is connected to a spray ring 101mounted in toilet 25 at its upper portion.

Theapparatus of FIG. 2 also has a supply system generally indicated at105.that is shown in more detail in FIG. 6. It is a metering system tofurnish disinfectantconcentrate composioftank 27 are seen in FIG. 3. 1

7 Referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that tank 27 is connected ma 1metering system generally indicated at 105 by a pipe 106. The

metering system 105 rsconnected-by pipe 107to asupply systemgenerallyindicated at 108.

The pipe 98that is connected to tank 27via vent'pipe 99is connected to awash bowl 109 that has an outlet valve lllo connected to its drainopening. The valve 110 is operated by a lever 111 and a linkage 112joined to a handle 113 above bowl I 109 in a conventional manner ofconstruction. This permits 1 the usual partial filling of wash bowl orbasin 109 for washing of the hands and permits the furnishing of apredetermined amount of water to tank -27. In the latter case, water isadded 7 to wash basin 109 up to a volume indicia 114 on the inside sur-7 face of bowl 109. The valve 110 communicates with admin. pipe 115 thatis connected to a three-way valve 116 :that

canister 120. A housing of canister 120 isprovided by a topitubularmember 121 and a bottom tubular member 122 that are secured end: to endat their opposed outwardly extending flanges. 123 and 124, respectively,posing ends members 121 and. 122 areopen but are closed at their otherends by walls .126 and 127, respectively. that provide the top andbottom'walls; respectively, of canister 120. The tubular member 121 hasaninternally-threaded cylindri-' cal flange .128 I'ab ove ;wall 126 forthreadedly mounting canister 120 on asupport-rnember 129 that has anexternally,

threaded, downwardly-extending, cylindrical flange 130 to which flange128 is engaged. The canister 120 has a central opening 131 in bottomwall 127."A hollow central extension 132 of a piston-l33 extendsdownwardly through opening 131.

within canister120.

The piston 133 is urged upwardlyiby spring 134 that has its topendqin-an annular recess 135* inthe bottom surface of piston 133. Thespring 134' has its bottom end in an annular recess in a plate 136secured on wall 127 within canister 120.

The piston 133:has a downwardly-extending skirt 137 that; is

spaced from the sidewall of canister120. Thus skirt 137 does not providefor a vertical guiding of piston 133; The plate 136 has a central hollowextension 138 between spring 134 and extension 132 of piston 133. Thehollow extension 138 serves as.

a guide for piston'133.

The canister 120 has 'aflexible tubular sealing member 140 that isimpervious to the liquid in canister 120. The upper end.

of member 140 is outwardly turned and secured between flanges 123 and124; The other end of'member 140 is secured it on the top surface ofpiston133 by a plate141-fixed on piston 130 by means (not shown). Ofcourse, it can be adhered to this end by member 140 and the latteradhered to piston 133. From its end between flanges 123 and 124 tubularzmember 140 extends downwardly beside wall 122 and then changesdirection to extend upwardly besidethe top part of skirt 137 to'the endmounted on piston 133. As piston 133 is moved upwardlyby spring 134, theplace in sealing member-140 at which there is this turn in its directionchanges during all of g the upward movement of piston 1310. .At alltimes member 140 it prevents loss of liquid from the inside of canister120.

r, The canister 120' has a central opening 139 in its top'wall 126 whichhas a top central boss 142 providing a continuation of opening 139 butthe upper portion is of smaller diameter to provide a downwardly facingshoulder 143. A silicone rubber seal 144 is mounted in opening 139including the portionlof smaller diameter. The shoulder143serves as astop for seal 144.Thus, canister 120 has its chamber closed at the topby' seal 144 until canister120 is raised with rotation about itslongitudinal axisfor mounting on support member 29. As canister sealring 147 that prevents lossof fluid from canister 120. Liquid may passbetweenneedle 145 and wall l26 but can not pass betweenbosses 142 andring 147. r 3

When the bottom open end of needle 145 communicates with the chamber ofcanister 120, fluid in the chamber is forced upwardly. through needle145 and out its top end where byjbolts125. Attheseop- I 146 totheoutside because of it communicates with a fitting 148 and therebywith pipe 107. Liquid is forced from canister 120, through pipe 107 tometering system 105 due to the movement, now permitted, of piston 133 inan upward direction by spring 134.

Fromthe foregoing description of FIG. it is seen that the supply systemof the invention includes a replaceable canister having a chamber inwhich liquid is placed, means within the canister to apply a pressure tothe liquid in a particular direction and a scalable, penetrable membermounted in a wall of the canister in the direction of force against theliquid. The overall supply system further includes a support means forthe canister, and hollow means mounted on the latter to penetrate thescalable member on the canister during the relative movement between thesupport means and the canister to provide an outlet from the chamber ofthe canister.

Referring to FIG. 6, a support means 150 of the apparatus has an opening151. The metering system 105 includes a cylindrical housing 152 open atthe bottom end above opening 151. The housing 152 has its lowermostsidewall portion downwardly flared and at its distal end there isprovided outwardly-directed radial flange 153 that is mounted on support150 to secure housing 152 in a fixed vertical disposition. With itslongitudinal axis concentric with the center of opening 151, a piston154 is mounted in housing 152. The piston 154 is supported by a spring155 extending into a hollow recess at the bottom of piston 154. Thebottom end of spring 155 is mounted in a recess 156 in the top of apiston 157 that has a spaced pair of downwardly-extending flat flanges158 that are in the bottom flared part of housing 155. The flanges 158are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of housing 152 andadjacent their distal ends they rotatably support a pin 159.

The outwardly-flared portion of housing 152 includes a radially-inwardflange 160 that extends inwardly only a short distance and from flange160 extends downwardly a tubular extension 161 having a pair of verticalslots through which extends the end portions of pin 159. A spring 162 ismounted around extension 161 so that the top end abuts the flange 160and the bottom end abuts pin 159. Thus, pin 159 is urged downwardly byspring 162. g

The pin 159 supports a cam follower 163 which abuts a cam 164 fixed byset screw 165 on shaft 166. The cam 164 has the same radius throughoutmost of the periphery. Only a small portion 167 has an increasing radiusfollowed by a decreasing radius to the normal radius. Thus the rotationof shaft 166 through one cycle provides for a momentary raising ofpiston 154 from its normal elevation shown in full lines to its maximumelevation shown by a phantom line for its top surface. This occurs whensurface 167 abuts cam follower 163 that raises piston 157 to compressspring 155 following which there is the complete raising of piston 154for a short period of time. As contact between surface portion 167 andfollower 163 is at decreasing distance of the contacted part of surface167 from the axis of shaft 166, piston 154 is moved downwardly by theweight of piston 157 and its follower 163, through the action of spring155, and as a result of its own weight. The piston 154 has a ring seal170 to prevent passage of liquid downwardly between piston 154 andhousing 152.

The chamber is provided by the top end 171 of housing 152, the sidewallof housing 152 and piston 154. The liquid is received and then partiallyforced out of the chamber by the upward movement of piston 154.

The upper part of the sidewall of housing 152 has a pair of threadedopenings 172. In one opening 172 there is mounted a check-valve fitting173 to which is connected pipe 107 for introducing liquid from canister120 into the chamber of housing 152. A check-valve fitting 174 ismounted on cylinder 152 at the other opening 172 to provide also forunidirectional flow but from the chamber of housing 152 to pipe 106 thatis connected to fitting 174. lllustratively the check valve of fitting173 has a crack pressure of from 1 to 2 p.s.i. absolute, whereas thecrack pressure of the check valve of fitting 174 is from 20 to 30 p.s.i.absolute.

initially, pierces seal 144 of canister 120, fluid is forced fromcanister 120, by the force of spring 134 that raises piston 133, intopipe 107 and then into the chamber of housing 152. This pressureprovided by spring 134 is insufficient to open check-valve fitting 174.However, when piston 154 is raised by the rotation of cam 167 asdescribed above, sufficient pressure is imparted to liquid in thechamber of housing 152 to open check-valve. fitting 174. The liquid isforced into pipe 106. The other end of pipe 106 communicates with tank27 as described earlier. Thus liquid is transferred to tank 27. Becauseof the lost motion construction of metering system 105,-only a smallamount of liquid is rapidly transferred into tank 27. The dimensions ofpipes 107 and 106 and of metering system are such that the quantity ofdisinfectant, concentrate composition introduced for one cycle ofrotation of shaft 166 is,'for example, about 0.5 cubic centimeter.

After the small quantity of liquid has been forced through fitting 174and pipe 106 into tank 27, replenishment liquid is received in thechamber of housing 162 because the lowering of piston 154 releasespressure that was imposed on the liquid. This results in the opening ofcheck-valve fitting 173 due to the higher pressure being maintained incanister by spring 134. As a result, liquid flows from canister 120 intothe chamber in the top part of housing 152.

in view of the foregoing description of the metering system, it isapparent that the system 105 includes a chamber having a piston andhaving an inlet with check meansv providing unidirectional flow from asupply source into the chamber, along with unidirectional flow from thechamber via an outlet. The metering system further includes broadlymeans to raise and lower the piston within the chamber in a cycle ofoperation, particularly in the present utilization in a cycle thatincludes a closing first of a conduit from the tank to which the outletof the metering system provides transfer of liquid from the system.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, spout 40 has in this embodiment a lowerportion that is in two halves and 181 that are pivotally mounted about ahorizontally-spaced pair of longitudinal axes by hinges 182 and 183,respectively. Each of hinges 182 and 183 has a spring 184 (FIG. 8) thaturges half-portions 180 and 181 into abutment with each other. The twohalves can be locked in position by a latch 185 (FIGS. 7 & 8), butordinarily this is unnecessary. in view of springs 184, it is apparentthat the movement away from each other of portions 180 and 181 must be aforced movement, that must be continued throughout the time that it isdesired to have these portions moved out of the way. This opening ofspout 40 is utilized to retrieve material very conveniently from areasof tank 27 as described earlier. Also described earlier is the manner ofmounting of spout 40 of tank 27 One advantage of this construction isthe access thus provided for a relatively shallow tank. Because tank 27is a tank for temporarily holding of waste, it is relatively shallow tominimize weight, etc.

As seen in FIG. 8, the toilet 25 has its bottom opening above andconcentric with opening 41 of top wall 26 of tank 27. The lowermostportion of toilet 25 is an upwardly-extending flange 188 that rests onan outwardly-extending radial flange 189 of q the top portion of scoop140. The flanges 188 and 189 are held in sealing abutment with eachother by a mounting ring 190 that is secured to top wall 26 by bolts 191in threaded openings 192 in wall 26. By this manner of construction,scoop 40 can be supported by tank 27 so that outlet 41 faces in thedirection shown in FIG. 8 but toilet bowl 25 can be rotated 180 about avertical axis so that the hinge mountings for a toilet and for a toiletcover are properly placed. This requirement occurs because sets oftoilets are installed left and right.

Referring to FIG. 10, conduit 30 in this illustration has a horizontalportion generally indicated at 201 adjacent to tank 27 and downwardlydirected curved portion 202, adjacent to tank 31 that provide acontinuous passageway from material from tank 27 to tank 31. The conduitportion 202 includes a air is in pipes 107256 106. When needle 145 205.The lining plate arms 222 are brought provides a liquid dam upstream totank 27.

' 235 fixedly mounted on plastic lining 203-in an,arcua tepussagewayj204 or ablock i 7 203 has a thickened flange 206 at itsupstream end. The flange 206 is portion 201 and flange 206 of lining,203Tareretained in posi-.

tion against block 205-by a ring :08 mounted on block'2051by bolts(notshown). v i I 1 The upstream conduitportion 201 is a tubularconduitthat Y isflexible and resilient. It ,is :made ofa material,suchasrubber; to provide these propertiesl Thewallof conduit porabuttedby an outwardly turned end part'207 of conduitportion 201; The end part2070f conduit tion adjacent its downstream end and;up stream-end,

v diverges and converges to provide annular ribs 209 and2l0,

respectively. The upstream end of conduit portion 201 is outwardlyturned to, provide part 214,0f' conduit portion 201 canbeinwardly movedtowards its longitudinal axis until conduit portion 201 is closed at ahorizontal plane containing that longitudinal axis. Theinsl termediatepart'214 ha s longitudinal ribs 215 that opposeeach cooperate to providethedesirable closing of conduit portion intermediate part2l4. J

The ribs 215, as in the vided by thicker'walls at those locations. Thus,the configuration of these ribs assist in the appropriate change indirection g of the opposed walls of conduit portion 201'w hen these optposed forces are applied to close conduit portion 201.

The opposing forces are supplied by.,a transverse, horizontal ,roll 220above conduit portion 201 at the intermediate part i 214 and a similarroll 221below-intermediate'part 214.

Theroll 120, is 'rotatably mounted at its ends on a pair of arms-222that arefixedon a shaft223 that is rigidly mounted eccentricallymountedon a plate. 228 fixedly mounted on a shaft 229 of a motor230. With thisconstruction, maria of; '228 throughjlSOTmoves pin 227 so that roll 220and in phantom lines. At the same timeroll 221 is raised ,tothe positionshown inphantom lines so that the central zone of ina flange21l.which.-,is held in abut-' 1 meat against wall 43 of tank 27cby axing212'. Thus, the construction' stated above provides conduit portion 201with rigidly fixed ends andannul ar ribs adjacentthese ends so thatthetwo ends are .retained in position while the intermediate V case ofribs 209 and 210, are not pro- 1 on a fixedsupport means (notshown.).The shaft 223 is moved! about its longitudinal axis by anarm 225fixedly mounted on 'shaft-223'and pivotally connected to an end of anarm 226:; The other end of arm 226 is rotatably mounted on a pin 227 7down to the position shown in phantom lines. During this movement ofroll. 220, it has pressed f I downwardly along intermediate part 214 tobring the'central zorie of-intermediate part 214 to thehorizontalaxis asshown termediate part214 has its inner surface abutting the opposingsurface of the top half to serve asa valve that closes conduit 1otherlandare' at the horizontal plane mentioned above and l 201,wheriopposingforces are applied at the top and bottom of when there isincineration and to pipe 67 when there isimerely evaporation. The valve66 has a housing 250 that encloses a spool 251. Housing 250 is mountedon top wall 49 of tank 31. The spool 251is hollow, closed at its top endand open at its 7 bottom end to providea chamber that communicates witha opening 64. .Thespool 251 has atop boss extension 252 that extendsupward through and above an opening in housing 250. t

A handle 253 extends radially from boss 252 above" housing 3 250 formanual rotation of spool 251 about its vertical longitudinal axis. Thespool has a circular opening 254 in its sidewall. The housing 250 hascircular openingsfin its sidewall at the same elevation as opening 254.Each opening in the sidewall of housing 250 receives one end of, pipe67or pipe 68. As a result, the movement of rotati on of spool 251through 90 can alternativelyprovide connection of pipe 65 with eitherpipe 67,

or pipe 68.,FIG. 12 shows opening in spool 25lcommunicating with pipe68. FIG. 13 shows spool 251 in its other position a by which opening 254communicates with pipe 67.

Referring .to 1 FIG. 14, an alternative three-way valve,

where they are coaxial with each othrJPipe 65 extends verti-. callyupward into block 261. With this constructiompipe 64 can communicatepipe 65 with pipe 67 but rotation of spool 262'for' aboutits horizontallongitudinal axis-communicates pipe65 with pipe 68. g I r A chambercompletelyencloses pipe 264 within spool 262. The chamber is definedbycurvedplates*270 and 271*, the

" base of the recess in block 261 anda cover (not shown). The

30. The raised lowermost portion of intermediate part 214 The raising ofroll 22l is accomplished in synchronism with the lowering of roll 220during the'half cycle rotation of plate 228 mentioned above.,A'pair ofarms 230 rotatably support 'roll 221 at one of their ends-Thearms,230are fixedly mounted on a shaft 231' that is rotatably mounted ona fixed support means.(not:shown). The shafty23l is rotated byani arm232 secured at one end on shaft 231 and .pivotally con-,

nected at its other end to an arm 233 rotatably mounted-at its 1 otherend on apin 234 that is eccentricallymounted on a plate a shaft 236. Asprocket 237 fixedly mounted-on shaft 229. drives'a chain 238 thatengages and l drives a sprocket 239 fixed on a shaft 240 rotatablymounted.

on-a fixed support'means (not shown);- Theshaft 2 40has a i i f gear.241 fixedly mounted on it. The gear, 241mm witha gear 242 that isfixedly mounted on a shaft 243 mounted ,on'a

fixed support means (-not shown); A sprocket 244 fixedly mounted on ashaft 243 drivesa chain 245 that engages and drivesa sprocket 246mounted on shaft 236 forits rotation. 7

Referring to F168;, 12 and 13, a three-way valve 66providesalternatively forflow of gasesfrorntank 31topipe 68' pipe 263isthermally shielded from hot pipe 264 bythis con- ,stru'ction. Thepipehas an electrical heatercoil 272 helically wound around it to maintainpipe 264 at a hightemperature to insure the, continuous flow of gaswithout deposition of incinerative material from tank 31 during the useof that tank for such op'eratiomBecause of the high temperature of pipe264, it is, necessary to thermallyfshield pipe 263 and the foregoingconstruction enclosing plates 270 and. 271 provides this-shield. *lntheabsence of thermal shielding, pipe 263 would becometoo hot and wouldraise thetemperature of gas passing from pipe to pipe 68 to ahightemperature that would d'estroythe biological filter, as describedearlier.

Referring to FlGS. 15,16 and17, there isshown an alternative,construction ,of a scoop that receives the waste material from a toiletand transfers it into'tank 27:on which the scoop 40is mounted.

As best seen inFIG. 16, scoop is acne-piece construc-.

tion that has a topcircular inlet 280 and an outlet 281 thatis facinghorizontally in tank 27. The scoop 40 1 extends downwardly and thenlaterally: ,The shape of outlet 281, as seen;in FIG. 15, is generallyrectangulartwith rounded corners and the major axisis horizontal. Theuppermost part of the wall of scoop 40 that constitutes the lateralextension has mounted on it a hollow cylindrical boss 283 with itsuppermost portion having a smaller inner and outer diameters. The smallinner. diameterprovides a, shoulder 284 that serves as a stop for oneendof a spring 18 5 mounted on a bolt 286 having its head 287 within boss283 The bolt 286 extends through the top ,of boss 283 and wall26.-A nut288 is on .bolt 28610" securely mount-bolt286 on top wall 26 of tank 27.The head 287 of bolt 286 is a bottom stop for spring 185. Thisconstructionlpermits relative movementbetween bolt 286 and scoop 40.This occurs when it is desired to move scoop 40 downward i as describedlater. in, that case, spring 285 is compressed;

between shoulder 283 and head 287. V

Normally spring 285 urges scoop40 upwardly. When scoop 40 is inoperative position, the top periphery of scoop 40 at.

upper inlet: 280 engages an annular" shoulder 289 present in the outersurface a downwardly extending annular flange 290 of top wall 26 at thelocation of inlet 280. The shoulder 289 is present in flange 290 becauseflange 290 has a portion adjacent its end portion converging in adownward direction, i.e., the end portion is offset inwardly. A bottomperiphery portion of toilet 25 would be mounted on tank 26 so that itwould be within flange 290 and abut the internal surface of flange 290at the offset in the wall of the flange.

In the event that it is desired to move scoop 40 from its operativeposition, it is only necessary to push down on the bottom wall of scoop40 until the inlet peripheral portion of the wall is moved below thebottom extremity of flange 290 of top wall 26. While maintaining thislower position, scoop 40 can then be moved in an arcuate manner aboutthe vertical axis of bolt 286 to any of a number of positions, includingthat shown by phantom lines in FIG. 17 in which scoop 40 is completelyaway from the opening in top wall 26. This permits easy manual access ofall parts of tank 27. To return scoop 40, it is merely necessary toprovide again the downward force and to move scoop 40 about the pivotalaxis of bolt 286 until inlet 280 is in alignment with flange 290.Release of the downward force results in the upward movement of scoop 40by the force of spring 285 to put the scoop 40 in the position shown inFIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown another embodiment of the means toclose the conduit means and at this same time provide a dam effect forliquid adjacent to and in tank 27. In this case, the apparatus forclosing a horizontal portion of conduit 30 adjacent tank 27 applies aclosing force against an intermediate part of a portion 201 of conduit30 adjacent to tank 27 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 10. Inthe apparatus of FIG. 18, the closing force is provided by an upper rod292 and a lower rod 293 that are moved downwardly and upwardly,respectively, in a transverse vertical plane with respect to portion 201so as to lower and raise the top half and bottom half of the flexible,resilient conduit 30 at intermediate portion 201. The movement is at thetransverse plane of abutment by rods 292 and 293 against intermediateportion 201 of conduit 30. The apparatus differs from the apparatusshown in FIG. in which rolls 220 and 221 must move through arcuate pathsabout axes transverse to the longitudinal axis of portion 201 duringtheir downward and upward movement for closing conduit 30.

The rods 292 and 293 have threaded vertical holes at their ends throughwhich pass a pair of threaded rods 294 that have opposite directions fotheir threads. The rods 294 thus support horizontal rods 292 and 293.The threaded rods 294 are rotatably supported at the bottom ends by abar 295 that is part of a fixed support means (otherwise not shown). Oneof the threaded rods 294 is rotated by a gear 296 fixed on one ofthreaded shafts 294 and meshing with a gear 297 fixed on a shaft 298that is rotated by a reversible motor 299. The shaft 298 extends throughmotor 299 and its other end is fixedly mounted on a gear 300 that mesheswith a gear 301 fixedly mounted on the other rod 294. By thisconstruction, both ends of each of rods 292 and 293 are moved at thesame speed by motor 299. The rods 292 and 293 move toward each other toclose conduit 30. The reversal of motor 299 results in movement of rods292 and 293 away from each other whereby a flexible intermediate portion201 that is resilient returns to its original open configuration for thepurpose of transferring flexible material from tank 27 to tank 31.

In FIG. 19, there is an illustration of the two-tank system of thepresent invention such as disclosed in our earlier copending patentapplication along with modifications that utilize some of theembodiments of the present invention.

In this embodiment tank 27 has pump 33 with filter 36 in zone B whilethe sidewall outlet is in zone A. These zones are separated by raisedportions 38 in bottom wall 37 of tank 27. The side outlet in zone A, Le.opening 44 in end wall 43, communicates with conduit 30 which isillustrated in its closed position obtained by rolls 220 and 221, whichare shown without equipment to support or to move them.

The tank 27 is shown with high-level, liquid-sensing means 90 andlow-level, liquid-sensing means 91 mounted in zone B. Also shown isspray ring 92 that is connected, in this embodiment, with a pipe 310that is connected to a pipe 311 by a check valve 312 and is connected toa pipe 313, a check valve 314 and a pipe 315 to a water source (notshown). In the use of the system in an airplane, pipe 311 can beconnected to drain pipe of a wash basin, such as described earlier inconnection'with FIG. 4.

The conduit 30 provides flow of waste material from tank 27 to tank 31having heater 52 that provides sufficient thermal energy for anevaporative operation as described earlier in connection with FIGS. 1and 2. The tank 31 has a vent pipe 316 that permits dumping of watervapor from tank 31 to the air outside of the plane.

For the purpose of complete that is connected to pipe 311 so that rinsewater is added to tank 31 simultaneously with the addition of rinsewater to tank 27 by connector 320 and pipe 311. The connector 320 isjoined to a pipe (not shown) extending from a truck or pipe linecontaining rinse liquid. The truck is furnished also with a tank orthere is another pipe line for receiving waste and rinse material fromtanks 31 and 27 by a conduit 321 and a connector 322 which is shown inFIG. 19 as closed by a hinged cap 323.

The conduit 321 has its top open end connected to tank 27 at an opening324 in which is normally disposed a bulbous valve 325 that is mounted onthe bottom end of a shaft 326. A sleeve 327 is supported by and extendsthrough top wall 49 of tank .31. The shaft 326 extends upwardly insleeve 327. A cable 328 is connected to the top of shaft 326 and extendsaround pulleys 329, 330' and 331. The cable 328 passes through sleeve332 mounted on a wall 333 of a fuselage of an airplane. A handle 334 isconnected to this end of cable 334. By pulling handle 334 away from wall333 of the fuselage, valve 325 is raised to permit flow of fluid fromtank 27 into conduit 321 and then out through the wall 333 of thefuselage to a connector 322. The connector 320 also extends through wall333. Tanks 27 and 31 are furnished with flushing liquid via connector320 and pipe 311 that passes out through spray rings 92 and 317.

Of course, check valves 312 and 313 prevent flow of rinse liquidfurnished by pipes 311 and 315, respectively, in a direction other thaninto tank 27.

Before a receiving pipe is joined to connector 322, a pipe is joined toconnector 320 to furnish rinse liquid via pipe 311 for a completeservicing operation that is initiated as described later.

To provide a control in the degree of evaporation of water from tank 31so that the contents of that tank do not become dry and thus damage theelectrical heater 52, a minimum liquid level is maintained in tank 31 inthis preferred embodiment. For this purpose, tank 31 has aminimum-level, liquidsensing means 340 mounted at a predeterminedelevation in tank 31.

Referring to FIG. 20, electrical power is furnished to motor 230 thatoperates one of the two valve closing mechanisms that have beendescribed above and that are shown in FIGS. 10v and 18, respectively.The motor 230 is furnished electrical power by lines L1, L2, L3 and L4that are connected illustratively to an alternating current ofthree-phase input. Line L4 is the neutral line. Lines L1, L2, and L3 areconnected by normally open contacts l-lCR, 2-1CR, and 3-1CR to lines L5,L6, and L7, respectively, that are connected along with line L4 to motor230.

The heater 52 is represented in FIG. 20 by heater coils ll-IC, 2l-IC,3l-IC, that are connected to line L4 by a line L8 and that are connectedrespectively to lines L1, L2, and L3 by line L9, L10, L11 through linesL12, L13 and L14, respectively. The lines L9, L10 and L11 are connectedto the three heater coils through normally open contacts 1-2CR, 2-2CR,and 3-2CR, respectively.

servicing of theiapparatus of this embodiment of the invention, tank 31has a spray ring 317 open.-The operation of motor 33M pumped back intotank 7 and a normally open, 1 switch 2LS that is operated as describedlater.

A subcircuit'lA has solenoid coil lSOL in parallel with coil The heater53-has heater coils 4HC, 5HC, 6I-IC thatareconnected byline L8 to line144 and that are connected by subcircuits that are joined to lines L12,L13 and L14 respectively; The subcircuit containing coil 4HC includes anormally open contact l 4CR and normally closedcontact 4-,2CR. Thesubcircuit containing coil 5I-IC; includes a normally open con-,-tact2-4CR and a normally closedcontact 5-2CR. Similarly, the thirdsubcircuit containing coil 6HCincludes a normally open contact 3-4CR anda normally closed contact 6-2CR'.

nected by lines'L19,-L20 and L21 to lines L12, L13 and L14. .The motor33M is also connected to lines L12, L13 andL1.4

by parallelcircuits that are connected to lines L16, L17; and

. e 201 that is normally closed but is open when switch IPB-A insubcircuit 18 is manually closed. The subcircuit 1D further in .cludes anormally open limit switch 3LS-B, thattis closed when The motor 33M ofpump 33 is operated by being connected to a powersource, as illustratedin FIG. 20 by the connection switch SLS-A is opened; and normally closedlimit switch lLS-A. I I

A subcircuit IE is connected iodine L and to circuit 1 between contactl-lTRand switch 2LS-A as in the case of vsub'circu it 1B. The subcircuitlE has a normally open limit switch'ILS-B that is closed when switch1LS-A in subcircuit lDis opened.

A circuit 2 includes in series a'normally closed temperature- I actuatedswitch l'I'AS, a normally open vacuum switch IVS, a

. normally closed contactJ-SCR-A (offa latch-in relay lLR having coilsJCR A and 3CR-B mentioned below), a normally open, minimum level,liquid-sensing switch 3LLS, and a coil 2CR of relay having contacts1-2CR, 2-2CR, etc.

A circuit 3. includes in series a temperature-actuated, normally open'switch 2TAS and-acoiLS CR-A of latch-in relay L18 through normally opencontacts 4-lCR, 51CR and 6- ICRL , Normally motor S ZlMis operated byclosing switch DSW to flush the toilet. .Whenthe waste management systemutilizes the components shown in" the embodiment of FIGS. 22 through 24,motor 33M is also operated when conduit is results in water being 27asdescribed later in connection with that embodiment of FIGS. 22-24. Thecontacts in the parallel circuits mentioned above provide for suchoperation opened.

30 whenever coil lCRis energized, i.e., whenever conduit 30*is ReferringtoFIG.,21, the circuitry isprovided with direct ,1

current by lines I voltage source (not shown). The plus and minussigns'for lines L25 and L26 indicate a direct current potential. Totheleft of L25 and L 26 that are connected to adirect line L25 in FIG. 21isa column of numerals, with or without a letter of the alphabet, directlyopposite circuits or subcircuits. A numeral represents a circuit. Asubcircuit is a number and a letter. A sub'circuit is in parallel'with apart of a circuithaving the samenumeral. Of course it is really acircuithaving in se-': ries, the components of theso-called subcircuitandone or more, but-not all, of the components of theso-called circuit.

To the right of line L26 is a column of numerals, with and,

withoutletters, that indicate the circuit or subcircuit in which thereis a contact of a relay affected by the .coil of the relayin the circuitor subcircuitto the left of, such numeral. The numeral'and letter, ifpresent, is underlinedto indicate thelocation of a normally closedcontact. 1

. The numeral20 in that right column indicates that con- 7 tacts,associated with the coil, can be found in FIG 20.

The circuitl includes a coil ICR of a relayhaving contacts l-lCR, 2-lCR,etc. The circuit 1 includes in series with coil lCR a normally open,time-closing contact-l-lTR (of a timer relay lTR that is referred tolater in connection with circuit ,4) held-closed limit switch 2LS-A of a1CR of circuit 1 and thus has contact l-lTR and switch 2LS-A in serieswith coil ISOL between lines L25 and L26. Coil I 1SOL is energizedwhenever coil ICR is energized. Y

A subcircuit 18 that is connected to line L25 and to circuit 1 betweencontact l-lTR and switch 2LS-A, has a normally open push-button switchlPB- A of switch lPB that is shown in I FIG. 5.

Arsubcircuit 1c is connected to line L25 and m circuit l between switch2LS-A and coil -1C R. Thesubcircuit 1C includes a normally closed limitswitch BLS-A'and a normally closed, held open limit switch 2LS-B that isoperated in unison with switch 2LS-A,mentioned above as being incircuit1.

A subcircuit 1D is connected to line L25 and to circuit 1 between switch2LS A and coil lCR as in the case of subcircuit 1C. The subcircuit lDincludes a low-level, liquid-sensing, normally closed switch lLLS and apush-button switch lPB-B,

lLR.

A subcircuit 3A is connected to circuit 3 between line L25 and switchZTASJThe subcircuitBA has in series a push-button contact 2P3 and a coil3CR-B of latch-in relay lLR. A subcircuit3B likewise is connectedbetween line L25 and switch 2TAS of circuit 3 and includes a normallyopen contact 2-3CR -A and a red light. Of course, subcircuits 3A and 313could be connected directly to line L25rather than into circuit 3, butfor convenience of reading from FIG. 21 the sig: niticance ofthesecircuits,,they have been shown as subcircuits. 1 w

A circuit-4 includes in series between lines L25 and L26 a r normallyopen, liquid-level sensing switch 2LLS and a coil 1TR of time-delayrelay having contact l-lTR.

A circuit 5 includes in series a normally closed vacuum switch 2VS,anormally opcncontact 1-6CR (of a relay having a coil 6CRin subcircuit7A mentioned later), a normally closed flow switch IFS, a normallyclosed, temperature-actuated switch 3TAS and a coil 4CR (of a relayhaving normally open contacts 1%4CR, 2-4CR,and 3-4CR shown in FIG. 20).

4LS and a coil 5CR of a relayyhaving normally open contacts 1-5CR andZ-SCR.

"cuit for coil 5CRwith which it is in series.

A circuit 7 includes a normally closed contact8-ICR and a normally open,time-closing contact 2-5CR in series with a solenoid 2SOL.

e A subcircuit 7A has a coil6CR in parallel with solenoid 2SOL and thusis connected between the latter and contact 2- SCR so that both solenoid2SOL and coil 6CR are energized at the same time and are deenergized atthe same time.

Referring to FIGS. 22 through, the embodiment of the system of theinvention, thatisf shown, has a difierent construction for temporaryholding tank 27 than that shown in the 'other embodiments that have beendescribed above. For simplification, various componentsiof the systemare not shown. For example, pipe 106 of metering system is not shownalthough it enters tank 27 in a preferred aspect of this embodie ment bywhich disinfectant concentrate composition is added automatically intotank 27 after each transfer of waste material from tank 27 to tank 31viaconduit 30. i V

In this embodiment, tank 271 has an isosceles trapezoidal outline, asviewed from the top. ;The parallel walls are the front andrear walls oftank 27-. The end wall 43 is not as wide as the other end wall. The maindifference between this tank 27 and tanks 27 described above inconnection with other em,

bodiments-is the nature of theshape of bottom wall 37.This 1 tank 27does not have raised portions 38, as in earlier embodiments to providezones A and B. The bottom wall 37 below lower portion zone B inthisembodiment is flat and horizontal,

whereas a portion 350 of lower wall 37below zone Aisupwardly inclined ina direction away from-opening 44 in end A circuit 6 includes in series anormally open limit switch wall 43. This upward inclination continues toa maximum height at an intermediate portion of wall 37 from which thereis a steeply inclined portion 351 down to the horizontal portion of wall37 below zone B. As a result, the inclined portion 350 adjacent thissharply downwardly inclined portion 351 provides a partial separationbetween zone B and the part of zone A that is adjacent opening 44. Afurther separation between zones A and B is afforded by a plate 352having perforations and mounted in tank 27 against an inclined portion351. The plate 352 and the shape of inclined portion 350 provide asubstantial barrier to movement of waste material, other than liquid,from zone A to zone B. The plate 352 is inclined toward wall 43.

The toilet 25 is mounted on top wall 26 and directly below the outlet oftoilet 25 the scoop 40 is mounted on top wall 26. Their manner ofmounting is shown diagrammatically rather than the specific waydescribed in connection with earlier embodiments. For simplificationscoop 40 is shown as having a one-piece construction and it is notmounted for movement relative to top wall 26 or toilet 25. However,outlet 42 faces end wall 43 so that material is transferred from toilet25 via scoop 40 to the lowermost portion of zone A of tank 27. Amounting ring 353 is mounted on the outside surface of end wall 43. Themounting ring 45 is mounted on ring 353 by bolts 354. The outwardlyturned end of flexible conduit 30 is secured between rings 45 and 353.The conduit 30 is closed, when required, in the manner described abovefor either embodiments. The shape of this end of conduit 30 by thisclosing, which is by a pinching action, is shown in FIG. 23 by phantomlines.

The portion 350 of bottom wall 37 that is below zone A has its cornerparts raised adjacent end wall 43 and a part of the front and rear wallsof tank 27. The area of raised rear corner part 354 is greater than thatof front corner, part 355. This is because opening 44 in wall 43 has itscenter in a vertical longitudinal plane forward of the centrallongitudinal line of tank 27 In other words, opening 43 is offsetforward. The bottom of opening 43 is at the lowermost point of the topsurface of wall portion 350. By this construction, there is a deeptrough in wall 37 adjacent opening 44. Because of the upward slant ofwall portion 350 and the decreasing slope of parts 354 and 355, awayfrom wall 43 the depth of this trough decreases toward plate 352 to aminimum depth of trough that extends almost to juncture with portion351. This trough is present as the rear part 356 and the front part 357of wall 37 beyond corner parts 354 and 355 are downwardly inclinedtoward each other. As a result, a shallow depth of material in zone Awill flow toward the trough and then toward opening 44. At the junctureof portions 350 and 351, the wall portion 350 is flat.

In this embodiment, wall 37 below zone B is in the horizontal plane ofthe lowest portion of wall portion 350 but it can be higher or lower.

As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, tank 27 is provided withliquid-sensing means 90 and 91 that extend into zone B of tank 27. Theliquid-sensing means 91 is preferably located at a height to sense thelevel of liquid in zone B in a plane corresponding to the juncturebetween portions 350 and 351 by bottom wall 37. Of course,liquid-sensing means 90 is above liquid-sensing means 91.

The inlet pipe 35 of pump 33 is-located in zone B adjacent 1 bottom wall37. The motor 33M of pump 33 is mounted on top of pump 33 and it is seenfrom FIG. 22 that pump 33 and its inlet pipe 35 are located behind thelongitudinal central plane of tank 27. A pipe 360 is connected to theoutlet of pump 33. The other end of pipe 360 is connected to an inlet ofa solenoid-operated, three-way valve 361 that is normally connected topipe 100 that provides flushing liquid to toilet 25 as in the otherembodiments. When the solenoid ISOL, that is mentioned above inconnection with FIG. 21, is energized, the spool of valve 361 is movedto communicate pipe 360 with a pipe 362 instead of with pipe 100. Thepipe 362 is connected by a coupling 363 at top wall 26 of tank to a pipe364 that extends vertically and then horizontally in tank 27 above zoneB and toward perforated plate 352. The pipe 364 is connected at its endto a horizontal pipe 365. This connection is intermediate the ends ofpipe 365. The pipe 365 extends transversely within tank 27, i.e., fromthe front to the rear. The pipe 365 has a number of openings 366 thatface downwardly and toward plate 352. Thus. the transversely-shapedopenings 366 provide water spray.

Wash liquid obtained from zone B by pump 33 through valve 361 andultimately sprayed out openings 366 of pipe 365 against plate 352 toopen any apertures in plate 352 that are clogged'with solid. The liquidpasses through these perforations of plate 352 into zone A to flushmaterial in zone A to opening 44 and then through conduit 30 to tank 31.This diversion of pumped flushing liquid occurs when conduit 30 is beingopened in a cycle of operation that transfers waste material from tank27, as described for other embodiments. This opening of conduit 30 isinitiated by liquid-sensing means 90.

As seen in FIG. 21, the solenoid lSOL is energized whenever coil lCR isenergized. The motor 230 that is energized by coil lCR opens conduit 30.

As shown by phantom lines in FIGS. 22 and 23, the apparatus utilizingdiverted pumped liquid can be modified to include a jet pipe 400 thatextends in a downwardly inclined manner from modified and repositionedpipe 365 into zone A toward opening 44. The open end of pipe 400 isgenerally below opening 42 of scoop 40 so that pumped liquid from pipe400 provides a blasting force for solids to ensure their removal throughconduit 30. Instead of openings 366, modified pipe 365 has widely spacedopenings in which are placed nozzles 401 that are flared in thedirection of the axis of pipe 365 to provide an overlapping sprayagainst plate 352.

In another modification, solenoid lSOL would not be in subcircuit 1A. Itwould be a circuit (not shown) in a series with a normally closed,held-open limit switch, a minimum level normally open sensing switch(that is closed by liquid above the level of sensor 91 and a coil of arelay having three normally open contacts in circuits in parallel withcontacts 4- LCR, S-LCR, and 6-ICR (FIG. 20). That limit switch is closedby a cam operated by the rotation of plate 228 during the opening ofconduit 30. The cam opens that switch and keeps it open until plate 228starts the second one-half of a complete revolution. As a result pump33M is operated and valve 360 has its spool at the position to providepumped liquid from zone B to pipe 365 from the time that conduit 30 isbeing opened until the level of material in tank 26 falls to the minimumlevel. This is especially desirable when the jet pipe 400, mentionedabove, is used.

The spray ring 92 that is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is used in thepartial servicing or the general servicing for flushing tank 27. Thewashing liquid is furnished to spray ring 92 via pipe 310. The vent pipe316 for tank 27 is shown in FIG. 22 only.

Earlier in this specification, reference was made to the use of aconduit with a flexible resilient portion and to raising means for themovement upwardly of the lowermost inner surface of part of the flexibleportion of the conduit as part of the pinching action to close theconduit. Instead of this specific construction, the conduit 30 can beconstructed of rigid pipes and swivels to permit raising of a part ofthe conduit, preferably adjacent tank 27. A valve would be mounted inconduit 30, e.g., between two pipes of conduit 30. The pipe to providethe dam would be arcuate with its intermediate portion normally belowthe ends that are at the same horizontal plane. By rotation of this pipeabout swivels at its ends, the intermediate portion is raised to providethe dam within conduit 30. This prevents flow of material from theholding tank in the event that the valve in the conduit does not close.In this construction the valve would not serve the dual function ofclosing the conduit and providing the dam by raising a part of theconduit, as described above in connection with the illustrativeembodiments of the invention.

OPERATION In the description that follows for the initiation of and eachit cycle of operation between partial servicing or. complete servicing,it is assumed that motor 230 and the equipment that it which rolls 220and 221 are a way from portion 201 of conduit I 30. When shaft229 ofmotor230 is atthis position, driven shaftl66 is positioned throughiadrive system (not shown) operates, as shownin FIG. 10, are used.At thestart of the use a, of the equipment, plate'228 is at the position in.FIG. by

connecting shafts 229, and 16 6sothat cam follower 163 abuts l cam l64at a non-cammingposition'sothat during the normal one-half rotation ofshaft 166 and thus cam 164, the cam follower 163 will be in abutmentwith cam portion 167 and then a in abutment with the surface of cam 164just beyond portion 167 atthe end portion of, this rotation that occursduring the closing of conduit 30. 1

7 At this initiation} of the operation, it isassumed also thatcanister120is mounted as shown in FIG. 5 so that disinfectantconcentratecomposition has passed into the chamber of housing 152 ofsupply system 105. Checkvalve fitting 174 stops further flow of thecomposition. The valve 110 is closed and water is added to wash basin109 until the waterlevel reaches indicia 114. The valve .116 has beenturned from its normal position so thatit no longer provides'drainagefrom pipe 115,

to pipe 117 but rather communicates pipe 98 with pipe 115.

:Whenconduit is open and plate 228 is at the position,

mentioned'abOveQIimit switch'2LS has its' switch 2LS-A in open positionand its switch2LS-B in closed position.These. switches have beenimovedto those positions bytheir springs.

A cam is mounted on shaft 166 or 811811129101 another shaft a (notshown) that is driven by motor 230. Thecamming action occurs onceduringrotation of the cam through 360, i.e., when conduit 30 is,,co mpletelyclosed by rolls 220 and 221.

Thus when conduit 30fis closed,the cam provides the closing and openingof switches 2LS-A and 2LS-B,'r'espectively.-

When conduit 30 is completely open because rolls 220 and 221 have beenmoved to the'positions shown in FIG. 10,'a cam" (not shown) engagesswitch3LS so that switch 3LS-A is open and switch SLS-Bis closed.Whenever oneof the, shafts, e.g.,"

shaft 229is at any position other than that at which conduit 30 is open,switch 3LS-A is closed and SLS-B is open. The service switch 1LS isalready at the operative position sothat switch 1LS-A is open and switchlLS-B is closed.

Atthis initiatiomof the operation, there 18 no liquid in tank 27. Thuslevel switch 1LLS is closed. The level switch 2LLS is open and thus coillTR is not energized so that contact l-lTR is open.

' r Because push-button switch 1P8 is notbeing pressed, con-.

tact 1 PB-A is open and contact lPB-B is closed.

in view of the" open conditionsof some swltc motor 230 is started. bymoving service switch 1LS tothefin operative position so that switchvlLS-A is closed. ,This results in the energization of coil ICR throughsubcircuit 1D. Contacts 4-1CR, 5-1CR and 6 -1CR close to start'motor230.As

motor 230 is operated, the cam for limit switch 31.8 is rotated so thatthe camming action no longer occurs and switch 3LS-R opens. Energizationof coil ICR continues because, .at the time switch 3LS-B opens. switchSLS-A closes to utilizesub-a circuitlC asaholding circuit." I i Whenmotor, 230hasoperated sufficiently to close conduit 30, the camforlimitswitch 2LS has been rotatedto the lcamming position wherebylimit switch ZLS-A is closedand I switch 2LS-B is opened. The opening ofswitch2LS-Bresults in the open ing of holding circuit IC and thedeenergizationof coil'lCR. The contactsA-ICR, s-lC-R zand 6-1CR open andmotor 230 stops. v v y V V 3 With conduit 30 now closed by rolls 220 and221, valve110 is opened to allow flow of water from bowl 109into tank27l Just-before conduit 30 was completely closed, cam164hadr mums-Aonnnlu. swatnm m5 m'nmvide a hvdraulic pressure, in I s of conduit 30.When ,motor 230 has operated fora short period of time thecam for switch2LS is no longer operative so "that switch 2LS-A openssand switch 2LS-Bcloses. From the, time that motor 230 had been operated for a shortperiod of i time in order; to close conduit 30, switch 3LS-A had beenhes and con tacts, coil lCR and solenoid ISOL are'not energized. The

' 24 r the chamber of housing 152 to open the check valve in fitting 174so as to provide a metered amount of disinfectant concentratecomposition into tank 27 via pipe 106. With the introduction of waterfrom wash bowl 109 into tank 27 andwith the introduction of thedisinfectant concentrate composition as described above, tank 27 now hasa proper amount of water containing a suitable concentration ofdisinfectant and dye.

The toilet system is now ready for use. V As .waste material flowsfromtoilet 25 and is flushed from it to tank 27 via scoop 40, theliquid, level in tank-27 rises. Ultimately low-level, liquid-sensingmeans switch ILLS is opened when it, shown insome drawings as thelevel-sensing means .91, detects this level of liquid. By} further useof the toilet.

sysltem,there is a'further rise in the level of material in tank 27until the level reachessensing means 90, which is high-level,liquid-sensing switch 2LLS that is thereby moved to the closed position.When this occurs, coil lTR isenergized to initiate a the closing ofcontact 1-1TR.uAftera predetermined period 0 time, e.g., seconds,contact 1-1TR closes. V a

. The time-delay relay containing coil lTR and time-closing contact1-1TR'isused instead "of a relay having a normally open contact to avoidan energization of coil 1CR in the event that switch 2LLS is closedmerely by lateral movement of material within tank 27. Such movementoccurs, e.g., when the airplane is tiltedabout its longitudinal axisduring flight. Such 1'1",111 level in a part of tank 27 occurs for ashort period of time. It would produce a false signal that would resultin the energization of coil lCR and the opening of conduit 30 before thereal level of materialin tank 27 had reached the height sufr' ficienttoclose switch 2LLS. f

' lt hasbeen stated above that switch 2LS was moved by its operatingcamwhen conduit 30 was returned to its closed position. At that time, theholding circuit 1C was opened and switch 2LS-A was closed( Accordingly,thisclosing of contact 1-1TR, asdescribed above, resultsj in theutilization of circuit 1 to energize coil lCR for the initiation phaseof this opening returned by its spring to the closed position. Thus,subcircuit 1C provides continuation of the energization of coil 1CRuntil the cam for switch 3LSopens switch 3LS-A.This occurs when.

rolls, 200 and .221Lhave been movedaway completely from. conduit 30.Because it is resilient atthe area to1be pinched for closing, conduit 30opens. .The, deenergization of coil lCR results in the stopping of motor230..

When conduit 30 has opened, 'flowable material moves out of tank 27.through conduit so and into tank 31. This flow continuesuntilthe levelof material in tank 27 is lowered to the pointat which switch ILLScloses. When this happens, subcircuit lDainitiates the energization ofcoil lCR until the cam. for switch 3LS'rotates to beiinoperative so thatswitch 3LS-B opens. At the same time, switch 3LS-A closes to pro-'videholding circuit lCforthe continued energization of coil lCR. Thiscontinues the operation of motor 230 to complete the closing of conduit30 as described above in connection with the condition for the closingof conduit 30prior to the adding of water from wash bowl 109. :Thiscompletes the cycle of operation of theiopening and closing of, conduit30 that is started when the real level of material in tank 27 hasreached is not added. Thus, the composition replenishes tank 27 with adisinfectant and dye approximately at the end of a cycle. Most v ofthese materials added at the previous closing of conduit 30 is in thetransferred material and thus in tank 31.1 he automatic addition ofcomposition proyidesthe replenishment.

